How and where you setup your cameras affect the performance of KiwiVision™ Privacy Protector™.
Recommended camera types and installation
Privacy Protector™ is designed for cameras with a fixed viewpoint.
Cameras must be mounted statically. They must not zoom automatically, be moved by wind, or be exposed to mechanical concussions.
Motorized and controllable cameras, such as PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras, are usable, but some or all of the image is pixelated after each viewpoint change until the program has analyzed the new background.
To ensure privacy with motorized cameras, do not use exclusion zones that are always unpixelated. Static privacy zones can be used, but they might not be a good choice for moving cameras.
Use cameras with a low-noise sensor
Privacy Protector™ treats image noise as a permanent change of the background. Cameras with a low-noise sensor are recommended to reduce reactions to very small changes in the image caused by noise.
A high ambient temperature also increases image noise. To ensure optimal functionality, avoid placing cameras in hot locations.
Use high-quality video compression
Privacy Protector™ treats compression artifacts, such as block construction and minimal jump displacements, as a permanent change of the background. Using the highest-quality video compression is recommended to reduce reactions to image changes caused by the compression algorithm.
Avoid automatic brightness adjustment and automatic white balance
Automatic color and brightness adjustment impede the analysis of video data. These features can cause sudden changes of color or brightness, which Privacy Protector™ treats as a permanent change of the background. To minimize unexpected pixelation, we recommend the following settings:
- Disable automatic white balance or set it to a static value.
- In scenes with constant illumination, set the brightness to a fixed value.
- In scenes with fluctuating illumination, enable automatic brightness to ensure that a useful image is always captured. A time constant setting for brightness adjustment is preferred. Set a slow adjustment, ideally longer than the Privacy Protector™ Continuous learning period, to ensure that Privacy Protector™ can adapt to the brightness changes.